Solar panels offer an alternative to conventional ways to power your home. Solar panels are a great option when considering switching to more environmentally friendly and cost-effective energy methods. There is more than one type of solar panel, each offering different pros and cons.
Understanding these types of what they entail gives you a better understanding of which will fit your needs and preferences. In this blog on the different types of solar panels, we’ll look at the following:
The three main solar panels are monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin film.
Each of these offers different advantages while focusing on the same goal of eco-friendly efficiency.
Monocrystalline solar panels are dark in appearance with uniform patterns and round edges. They’re highly efficient due to the purity of the silicon material. Because of the many benefits, monocrystalline solar panels are the most costly.
Monocrystallines take up less space, making them preferable for roofs with limited area. They’re also more durable than polycrystalline and thin-film solar panels, with greater resistance to high temperatures.
Polycrystalline solar panels have a square-patterned, blue, speckled appearance. They’re a cheaper option than monocrystalline panels due to being made with melted, raw silicon, a more affordable and efficient manufacturing process.
Being less durable, hot temperatures shorten the lifespan of these but not by much. While monocrystalline panels may offer higher efficiency, the difference isn’t too significant, and choosing comes down to personal preference, budget, and roofing needs.
Thin-film solar panels are the least expensive option of the three kinds. They’re created by placing one or more thin layer films of photovoltaic material onto a substrate. They're also the easiest to produce and have high-temperature resistance. Using thin-film panels on residential roofs may be difficult due to taking up a lot of space. Likewise, they have a shorter lifespan than their counterparts.
| Monocrystalline | Polycrystalline | Thin-Film |
|---|---|---|
| Pure silicon | Melted silicon crystals | Combination of materials |
| Preferable for limited roof space | Preferable for wide roof space | Preferable for commercial and industrial roofs |
| 15-20% efficiency | 13-16% efficiency | 7-10% efficiency |
| Moderate cost | Low cost | High cost |
| Long lifespan | Moderate lifespan | Short lifespan |
| 38.1 g CO2-eq/kWh | 27.2 g CO2-eq/kWh | 21.4 g CO2-eq/kWh |
Monocrystalline panels offer the highest efficiency rating, capable of converting 20% of sunlight into usable solar energy. Polycrystalline solar panels typically fall between a 13% to 16% efficiency rating, only a few percentages less than monocrystalline panels.
Monocrystalline panels have the most extended lifespan of the three major solar panels. They’re the most expensive option due to their pros, usually lasting 25 or more years. Some monocrystalline panels continue to perform for up to 50 years.
While the average solar panel will produce between 170 to 350 watts each hour, monocrystalline takes the lead, outputting the highest level of electricity. The monocrystalline panels’ power output is 38.1 grams of carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour of electricity generated. In comparison, polycrystalline sit at 27.2 grams of CO2 and thin-film at 21.4 grams of CO2 per kilowatt hour of electricity.
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Solar panels offer an alternative to conventional ways to power your home. Solar panels are a great option when considering switching to more environmentally friendly and cost-effective energy methods. There...